“Come into the next room, will you, Herrick?  I want to speak to you a minute.”

What he was going to say he did not know.  Herrick was such a steady old chap, from him radiated such uncomplaining patience, about him was such aloofness concerning his private affairs, that to speak to him on personal matters was difficult.  He handed him cigars and lighted one himself.

“I’m going to close the office, Herrick, until after New-Year,” he began.  “I thought perhaps you might like to go away.”

“I would.”  Herrick, whose cigar was unlighted, smiled slightly.  “But I don’t think I’ll go.”

“Why not?”

Herrick hesitated, and his face flushed.  He was nearing forty, and his hair was already slightly gray.  “There are several reasons,” he said, quietly.  “Until I am able to be married I do not care to go away.  She would be alone, and Christmas alone—­”

“Is—­is it Miss Davis, Herrick?” Van Landing’s voice was strangely shy; then he held out his hand.  “You’re a lucky man, Herrick.  I congratulate you.  Why didn’t you tell me before; and if you want to get married, why not?  What’s the use of waiting?  The trip’s on me.  Christmas alone—­I forgot to say I’ve intended for some time to raise your salary.  You deserve it, and it was thoughtlessness that made me put it off.”  He sat down at his desk and took his check-book out of a spring-locked drawer and wrote hastily upon it.  “That may help to start things, Herrick, and if there’s any other way—­”

In Herrick’s astonished face the blood pumped deep and red, and as he took the check Van Landing put in his hands his fingers twitched nervously.  It was beyond belief that Van Landing should have guessed—­and the check!  It would mean the furnishing of the little flat they had looked at yesterday and hoped would stay unrented for a few months longer; meant a trip, and a little put aside to add to their slow savings.  Now that his sister was married and his brother out of school, he could save more, but with this—­He tried to speak, then turned away and walked over to the window.

“Call her in, Herrick, and let’s have it settled.  Why not get the license to-day and be married to-morrow?  Oh, Miss Davis!” He opened the door and beckoned to his stenographer, who was showing Carmencita her typewriter.  “Come in, will you?  Never mind.  We’ll come in there.”

CHAPTER XIV

Miss Davis, who had risen, stood with one hand on her desk; the other went to her lips.  Something was the matter.  What was it?

“I hope you won’t mind Carmencita knowing.”  Van Landing drew the child to him.  “She is an admirable arranger and will like to help, I’m sure.  Miss Davis and Mr. Herrick are going to be married to-morrow, Carmencita, and spend their holiday—­wherever they choose.  Why, Miss Davis—­why, you’ve never done like this before!”

Miss Davis was again in her chair, and, with arms on her desk and face buried in them, her shoulders were making little twitchy movements.  She was trying desperately hard to keep back something that mustn’t be heard, and in a flash Carmencita was on her knees beside her.